Modified playing cards and method of use

ABSTRACT

A deck of modified playing cards enhances traditional wagering card games. In a first example, traditional card ranks are replaced with letters. For example, each Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of one or more suits in a deck of playing cards is replaced with the letters “V”, “E”, “G”, “A”, and “S”, respectively. In another example, all Jacks are replaced with the numeral “11” to facilitate a 7/11 bonus game. In another example, all Kings are replaced with the number “13” and all Sevens are replaced with the letter “L” and word “Lucky.” In yet another example, pre-established cards are replaced with logos such that the logo card in a final card hand acts as bonus card or may act as a wild card. In such an arrangement, casino logos can be used to promote the casino and its amenities. In one version, awards include comps to businesses represented by the logo.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to playing cards. More particularly,modified playing cards for use in live games and games facilitated byelectronic gaming devices.

BACKGROUND

Traditional playing cards have been in existence for centuries. Atraditional deck of playing cards includes four suits, namely clubs,diamonds, spades and hearts. Each suit comprises an Ace, Two, Three,Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen and King for atotal deck of 52 cards.

Traditional cards have facilitated many games of chance including Poker,Blackjack, Cribbage, Pinochle, etc. In each instance, the rank and suitof the card is depicted on its face. While it is understood that newgames of chance utilizing traditional cards may be developed, theability to create corresponding new and unique game enhancements isquite limited. That is, traditional cards no longer provide a great dealof versatility.

The ability to provide versatility is more important given theproliferation of electronic gaming devices, namely video poker machines.Indeed, video poker machines are now more popular than live games ofchance. Correspondingly, there is a need for modified playing cardswhich benefit both live games of chance and wagering games facilitatedby electronic gaming devices.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention comprises amodified deck of cards wherein card ranks are replaced with letters. Forexample, each Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace in a deck of playing cardsis replaced with the letters “V”, “E”, “G”, “A”, and “S”, respectively.Each of the letter cards also include suits.

In another embodiment, all Jacks are replaced with the numeral “11” tofacilitate a 7/11 bonus. Similarly, an enhanced royal flush comprises a7, 11, Queen, King and Ace. The traditional royal flush (i.e., 10, Jack,Queen, King and Ace) may be paid at a reduced rate.

In another embodiment, all Kings are replaced with the number “13” andall Sevens are replaced with the letter “L” and word “Lucky.” Otherembodiments comprise replacing all cards with letters and/or numbers tofacilitate unique objectives.

In yet another embodiment, pre-established cards are replaced with logossuch that the logo card in a final card hand acts as bonus card or mayact as a wild card. In one such embodiment, casino logos are used topromote the casino offering the games of chance. As described in moredetail below, the logos may be used to award player comps as well.

The use of the modified cards disclosed herein provides a means forenhancing traditional card games and personalizing games for individualcasinos and related gaming venues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a modified portion of a deck of cards wherein lettersreplace royal flush cards;

FIG. 2 shows a modified portion of a deck of cards wherein Jacks arereplaced by the numeral “11”;

FIG. 3 shows a modified portion of a deck of cards wherein Sevens arereplaced with the letter “L” and Kings are replaced with the numeral“13”;

FIG. 4 shows a modified portion of a deck of cards wherein Tens arereplaced with logos; and

FIG. 5 shows a gaming device which may facilitate electronic games ofchance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While both live games (e.g., Blackjack) and wagering games facilitatedby electronic gaming devices (e.g., video poker) may utilize themodified cards of the present invention, for the sake of brevity, gamingdevices, more particularly gaming devices facilitating video poker, arerelied upon throughout the detailed description. Traditional video pokercomprises a player receiving five cards on a display of a video pokermachine. The player then elects, via a player interface, which cards tohold and fold. Folded cards are replaced with remaining cards in thedeck. Players are then paid based on the strength of the player's finalpoker hand.

Video poker machines are controlled by processors in communication witha random number generator, memory device, display and player interfaces.The operation of video poker machines is well known to those skilled inthe art and need not be overly described herein.

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred toby like numerals throughout. FIG. 1 illustrates a modified portion of adeck of cards 100, wherein the royal flush cards are replaced with theletters “V”, “E”, “G”, “A” and “S” 110-1 through 110-5. While spades 120are shown, any of the cards of the four suits in the deck may besimilarly modified. Indeed, each of the selected cards of the four suitsmay be modified in a single deck simultaneously.

The royal flush is the highest achievable hand in standard video poker.There are four possible royal flushes in a standard deck of playingcards. That is, each suit comprises one royal flush. In the VEGASarrangement of FIG. 1, players attempt to obtain the five letters insequential order or random order to win pre-established payouts. Shouldonly one suit be modified, obtaining the five letters in any order canbe subject to a large award as cards in only one suit (i.e., five cards)have the letters. Moreover, obtaining the letters in a sequential (i.e.,VEGAS) or reverse sequential order (i.e., SAGEV) can have a very largeaward since there is only one way to achieve the hands.

Now referring to FIG. 2, the four Jacks in the deck are replaced withnumerals “11” 130. In addition, Sevens are modified by replacing thelarge suit icons or pips 140 with a single large numeral “7” 145. Such amodified deck facilitates the play of new interesting games. Forexample, 7-11 royal flush poker creates a new royal flush poker handcomprising the 7, 11, Queen, King and Ace. The traditional royal flush(i.e., 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace) may still pay the player, but in alower amount. In another example, 7-11 full house poker pays players abonus for obtaining a full house comprising 7-11 only (e.g.,7-7-11-11-11 or 11-11-11-7-7). Based on the dice game of craps, 7-11 arepopular numbers in gaming circles and serve to enhance the traditionalgame of video poker.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, Sevens are replaced with theletter “L” 150 and word “LUCKY” 155 and Kings are replaced with thenumeral “13” 160. This arrangement facilitates a bonus award for finalhands comprising four 13s and a designated LUCKY card (i.e., LUCKY 13).Other bonus hands are also conceivable using the combination of theLUCKY cards and 13s.

Yet another embodiment, utilizing logo cards, is shown in FIG. 4. Thelogo cards may be used as replacement cards for any cards in the deck.In one example, the Tens from a Blackjack deck of cards are replacedwith logos 170. In one bonus scheme, players receive a bonus payout whenreceiving a two card Blackjack wherein one card is the logo card (i.e.,the Ten). So, an Ace and logo card results in a bonus award above andbeyond the traditional Blackjack payout. In a video poker example, logos170 replace Twos and act as wild cards.

The benefits of the logo cards include enhancing old games of chance andprovide a mechanism for advertising. In one approach, the casinooffering the game of chance places its logo on the cards simulated oneach and every video poker machine on the casino floor. The casino mayalso place on the cards logos which represent restaurants, shops andrelated businesses within the casino. Then, bonus awards can includefree dinners and/or merchandise (i.e., comps) from the businessrepresented by the logo. A myriad of different promotional concepts arepossible with the logo cards. For example, having one or more logo cardsmay provide the player with a steak dinner or free movie tickets.

Now referring to FIG. 5, an electronic gaming device 200 of the typewhich may facilitate the embodiments of the present invention is shown.The general external features of the gaming device 200, include adisplay 210, coin slot 220, a bill reader 230, a card reader 240 and acredit display 250. The gaming device 200 also includes several playerbuttons which act as interfaces between the player and the machineprocessor. Player buttons include hold/discard buttons 260, a one coinwager button 270, a maximum coin wager button 280 and a deal button 290.While not shown, the device 200 may also incorporate a ticket dispenserfor printing tickets for redemption at a cashier window. Such cashlesssystems are becoming increasingly popular in most gaming jurisdictions.It is noted that any of the functions facilitated by the gaming machinebuttons 260-300 can be accomplished by a display employing touchscreentechnology.

The operation of electronic gaming devices, including slot machines andvideo poker machines, is well known in the industry so that the minutedetails are not set forth herein. In general terms, slot machines andvideo poker machines are controlled by processors including, or incommunication with, a random number generator. The random numbergenerator generates the machines' outcomes. A display in communicationwith the processor provides visual information to players.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference toseveral embodiments, additional variations and modifications existwithin the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined inthe following claims.

1. A deck of playing cards comprising: a plurality of cards grouped intofour suits, said suits comprising diamonds, hearts, clubs and spades,wherein each of the plurality of cards depicts a suit in two diagonallyopposite corners of a card face; the plurality of cards comprising afront face and a back; said plurality of cards including one or morefirst cards depicting on the front face traditional card ranks, eachfirst card further depicting a number of pips matching the card rank ora picture denoting a face card; said plurality of cards furtherincluding one or more second cards depicting on the front face a letteror logo near a card center in place of the card rank, pips and picture,said second cards depicting only the letter or logo in combination witha suit; and wherein the first cards in combination with the second cardsform the complete deck of playing cards.
 2. The deck of playing cards ofclaim 1 wherein the first cards include traditional card ranks twothrough nine and the second cards include letters V, E, G, A and S inplace of the traditional ace, king, queen, jack and ten, respectively.3-4. (canceled)
 5. The deck of playing cards of claim 1 wherein thefirst cards include traditional ranks ace through nine and jack throughking and the second cards include a logo in place of the traditionalten.
 6. The deck of playing cards of claim 1 wherein the first cardsinclude traditional ranks ace and three through king and the secondcards include a logo in place of the traditional two.
 7. The deck ofplaying cards of claim 1 wherein the logo is selected from the groupconsisting of a casino, restaurant, spa, show, club and shop.
 8. Thedeck of playing cards of claim 1 wherein the cards are simulated on anelectronic gaming device.
 9. The deck of playing cards of claim 8wherein the electronic gaming device facilitates the play of video pokeror blackjack.
 10. A method of playing card games comprising: accepting aplayer wager; providing a plurality of cards grouped into four suits,said suits including diamonds, hearts, clubs and spades, said pluralityof cards comprising a first set of cards having traditional card ranks,each first card in the first set further comprising a number of pipsmatching the card rank or a graphic denoting a face card and a secondset of cards incorporating a numeral, letter, logo or symbol in place ofthe card rank, pips and picture, said second cards identified by suit;selecting a pre-established number of random cards from the plurality ofcards formed by a combination of the first set and the second set ofcards; and awarding a player a payout based on the player wager, saidaward being related to the selected random cards.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 wherein the first set of cards includes traditional card rankstwo through nine and the second set of cards includes letters V, E, G, Aand S in place of the traditional ace, king, queen, jack and ten,respectively.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the player receives anaward in response to holding one or more of the cards from the secondset cards in a final player hand.
 13. The method of claim 1 1 wherein aplayer receives an award for holding each of the five letters of thesame suit in a final hand.
 14. The method of claim 10 wherein the firstset of cards includes traditional card ranks ace through six, eightthrough ten, queen and king and the second set of cards includesnumerals 7 and 11 in place of the traditional seven and jack.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 wherein the player receives an award for holding aone or more of the cards from the second set of cards in a final hand.16. The method of claim 14 wherein the player receives an award forholding a full house comprising only cards from the second set of cards.17. The method of claim 14 wherein the player receives an award forholding a 7, 11, queen, king and ace of the same suit in a final hand.18. The method of claim 10 wherein the first set of cards includestraditional card ranks ace through six and eight through queen and thesecond set of cards includes the word lucky in place of the traditionalseven and a numeral 13 in place of the traditional king.
 19. The methodof claim 18 wherein the player receives an award for holding one or moreof the cards from the second et of cards in a final hand.
 20. The methodof claim 18 wherein the player receives an award for holding four 13sand the word lucky in a final hand.
 21. The method of claim 10 whereinthe first set of cards includes traditional ranks ace through nine andjack through king and the second set of cards includes a logo in placeof the traditional ten.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the playerreceives an award for holding one or more of the cards from the secondset of cards in a final hand.
 23. The method of claim 21 wherein thelogo is selected from the group consisting of a casino, restaurant, spa,show, club and shop.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the payout is acomp related to the casino, restaurant, spa, show, club or shop.
 25. Themethod of claim 21 wherein the card from the second set of cards aredeemed wild cards.
 26. The method of claim 10 facilitated by anelectronic gaming device.
 27. A method of playing card games comprising:accepting a player wager; providing a plurality of cards grouped intofour suits, said suits including diamonds, hearts, clubs and spades,said plurality of cards comprising a first set of cards havingtraditional card ranks, each card in the first set further comprising anumber of pips matching the card rank or a graphic denoting a face cardand a second set of cards incorporating a logo; selecting apre-established number of random cards from the plurality of cardsformed by a combination of the first set and the second set of cards;and providing the player an award based on an amount of the player wagerand the arrangement of the selected random cards, said award beingcomplimentaries to one or more businesses represented by the logo. 28.The method of claim 27 wherein the complimentaries include discounts onbusiness merchandise.
 29. The method of claim 27 wherein the logo isselected from the group consisting of a casino, restaurant, spa, show,club and shop.